Bailey tipped Lewis-Francis to win gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004 after he won world junior 100m and 200m gold in 2000 and was the fastest 17-year-old in the world.

But the Canadian sprinter now believes he and his coach Dan Pfaff are the best option for Lewis-Francis, who has not improved his personal best for three years and has yet to reach a major championship final.

"Dan and I would sort him out," he said. "He would know what it takes to turn Mark into a champion."